ECO Camp Training at BTWNM Continues - Weeks 2 and 3

We have successfully completed 3 Saturdays of ECO Camp nature training at Booker T. Washington National Monument (BTWNM) for kids from 7-12 years old.  I previously reported on the first week of training about Stream critters and Soil erosion on May 8^th.

Since then we have had 2 more training days.  On May 15^th the kids eagerly learned about Camouflage & Stealth presented by Victoria Keenum.  Victoria explained how animals use camouflage and stealth to avoid predation or to be better predators. The Hidden Life of Birds presented by Mary Harshfield, Lourdes Page and Linda Cory of the Roanoke Valley Bird Club.  The children learned many aspects of the life of birds including bird song identification, how birds mimic other bird songs, drawing birds and much more.  Each participant received their own copy of the Cornell Bird Activity book.

Then on May 22 the kids learned about the Life of Seeds by Meg Brager.  There are about 300,000 species of plants on our planet each with their own seed.  Seeds vary in size from less than pinhead to over a foot in length.  Virtually all animals can only survive through either direct or indirect nourishment of plant life and therefore seeds. The Water Cycle was presented by Jean & Lee Borgman.  Like seeds, virtually all life depends on water to live.  The children learned the water cycle including clouds, oceans, streams, ground water, rivers, lakes and how the sun helps the water cycle continue.

We had about 20 kids each day and they were attentive and asked a lot of good questions.  A report on the final 2017 ECO Camp, Monarchs& Their Migration and Decomposers, will appear in a post above.

Looking and listening for birds

Exploring camouflage and stealth

Life of Seeds

Clouds as part of the water cycle